Fastener



Oct. 20, 1925. 1,557,996

G. H. ENNIS FASTENER Filed Sept. 27. 1 24 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

22 I! u A INVENTOR GZ/ZCZQZ/TI/CS,

:29. QWLMM ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1925. 1,557,996

G. H. ENNIS FAS TENER Filed Sept. 27. 1924 2 Sheets-$11391, 2

INVENTOR Fi/aw ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FASTENER.

Application filed September 27, 1924. Serial No. 740,853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HENRY ENNIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fasteners for use for paper files or binders, and is adapted for use in connection with various types of files, with various types of loose leaf book binders, and as an ordinary paper fastener.

The object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which securely holds or locks the papers together in the file or binder, the fastener being susceptible of being readily and easily manipulated for the purpose of holding the papers together or for the purpose of releasing the papers so as to permit of the taking the papers from the file or the addition of papers thereto. 7

A further object is the "provision of a device of this character which is adapted for practically universal application and which is of simple and durable construction, reliable in operation, and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fastener which is so constituted as to obviate the necessity of using double prongs, thereby avoiding the tearing and mutilation ofthe papers filed on the fastener due to the fact that file clerks and others fail to bring the two portions of the double prongs together when putting papers thereon.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features ofthe construction,

arrangement and combination of parts which will hereinafter be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a view in section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the lockingand holding bar of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a similar view of the paper penetrating tongue or prong and its base,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but

showing a slightly modified form of base,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the base of Figure 5 associated with the file back,

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view showing another form of penetrating tongue or prong and base,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another form of penetrating tongue or prong and base,

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the locking and holding bar employed with the tongue orprong of Figures 7 and 8,

Figure 10 is a view-in cross section on the line 1010 of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing another form of the invention,

Figure 12 is a view in section on the line 1212 of Figure 11, but showing a slightly diflerent form of base,

' Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of the locking and holding bar of Figures 11 and 12,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the tongues or Figure 11,

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified form of tongue or P g Figure 16 is a view in section on the line 1616 of Figure 15,

Figure 17 1s a detail perspective view of another form of holding and locking bar that may be employed with the tongues of Figures 7, 8 or 15,

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view in section illustrating the tongue of Figure 15 associated with the bar of Figure 17, and

Figure 19 is a view in longitudinal section on the line 19-19 of F igure. 17.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 41- inclusive, the numeral 10 designates a base which may be circular in form or of any suitable shape. A paper penetrating tongue or prong 11 is integrallyformed with or suitably connected to the base 10, and the base and prong are constructed of metal which is bendable and resilient to the requisite degree. The papers or letters to be filed are designed to be positioned on the tongue 11 above the base .10, the prong or tongue 11 penetrating the papers. A portion of the tongue 11 projects above the top of the papers and with this prongs and the base employed in projecting portion a locking and holding bar 12 of tubular form is operatively associ-g ated. The bar 12 takes the form of a fiat and elongated tube constructed of a single piece of metal and having a slot 13 in its under-v face and extending for approximately half of the length of the bar. The slot 13 is slightly greater in width than the tongue 11 with which it is associated to facilitate the insertion of the tongue into the closed portion 14 of the tubular locking and holding bar. In assembling the locking and holding bar with the tongue 11, the tongue 11 is bent over almost to the horizontal and the looking bar is then slipped onto the bent portion of the tongue, the tongue entering the closed portion of the bar through the slot 13. B forcing the bar to the left as viewed in Figure 2, and bringing the bar snugly down into engagement with the papers, the pa ers may be pressed between the bar and the ase and the elasticity of the compressed papers enhances the locking action between the tongue and the bar to firmly hold these parts together.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6 is identical with that herein above described, except that adifferent form of base for the tongue 11 is provided. The base of the tongue shown in Figures 5 and 6 is designated at 15, and is substantially diamond shaped to present pointed lugs 16 designed to be driven through a rigid back 17 and bent about the same as shown in Figure 6.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 7, the tongue and the base are constructed of a single piece of resilient and bendable Wire which is coiled to form a base 18. The extremity of the inner convolution of the coil base 18 is extended to form a penetrating tongue or prong 19.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 8 a flat metal plate 20 constitutes the base and a resilient and bendable wire 21 is suitably secured to the base 20 and is extended therefrom to provide the penetrating tongue or prong.

A cylindrical and tubular locking and holding bar 22 is provided for the tongues 19 of the form shown in Figure 7 and of the tongues 21 shown in Figure 8. The cylindrical formation of the locking and holding bar 22 adapts the bar for use with the bendable wire tongues 19 and 21. Each bar 22 is formed with a slot 23 in its under portion, and these bars 22 are designed for coaction with the tongue 21 in exactly the same manner that the bars 12 co-act with the tongues 11.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 11, 13 and 14, an elongated base 25 is provided, and takes the form of a flat plate in which any suitable number of prongs or tongues 26 may be stamped or punched. It

be understood that while three prongs 26' are shown, any desired number may be provided, theplate 25 being shortened or lengthened as found necessary. A flat tubular locking or holding bar 27 is provided for co-action with the tongues 26 and is formed on its underside with an entering slot 28 for each prong and with a closed tubular portion 29 for each prong. The portions of the prongs 26 which project above the paper are bent over in the same direction and the locking and holding bar 27 is then slipped onto the bent projecting portions of the prongs, the prongs being forced into the closed portions 29 of the bar 27 and the bar being drawn snugly against the papers, whereby the bar 27 and the base 25 compresses the papers and the elasticity of the compressed papers enhances the locking action between the tongues 26 and the locking bar.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 12 is identical with that just described and the description hereinabove applies to Figure 12 except that the ends of the base are formed with pointed extensions 30 desiring to be driven through a rigid back 31, and bent around the back 31 to secure the base 25 to the back 31.

In the form oil the invention illustrated in Figure 15, a base 32 is provided and is formed with a prong 33 which is bent to present a rounded tubular prong as illustrated to advantage in Figures 16 and 18. With this rounded tubular prong 33, the locking bar 22 shown in Figures 9 and 10 may be associated, or if desired, still another form of locking bar, which is illustrated in Figures 17 to 19 inclusive, may be employed.

The locking bar illustrated in Figures 17 to 19 is designated generally at 35, and consists of a single piece of metal folded over against itself and having along its center oppositely offset corrugations or ridges 36 defining a tubular socket 37 for the prong 33 or for the prongs 19 or 21. A portion of the lower corrugation or ridge 36 is cut away to provide an entering slot 38. lVith this form of the invention the structure of the locking and holding bar although varied does not alter the operation and coaction of the parts which has been hereinabove described in conjunction with the other forms of the invention.

In all forms of the invention a tubular locking andholding bar is provided for coaction with the penetrating tongue and the locking and holding bars have entering slots for the tongues and have closed portions providing sockets for the tongues.

I claim 1. In a fastener of the character described, a base comprising a flat plate of metal, a penetrating tongue stamped from the base and folded to provide a rounded tubular structure, and a tubular locking bar having a socket for said penetrating ton ue.

In a fastener for papers and the like, a base, a penetrating tongue of bendable material upstanding from the base, said penetrating tongue having a portion projecting above the paper which it penetrates, and a tubular locking and holding bar having an entering slot for the projecting portion of the tongue and having a closed portion providing a socket in which the projecting portion of the prong is snugly fitted and held, the bar presenting paper engaging faces on each side of the prong.

3. In a fastener for papers and the like, a base, a penetrating tongue of bendable inaterial upstanding from the base, said penetrating tongue having a portion projecting above the paper which it penetrates, and a tubular locking and holding bar having an entering slot for the projecting portion of the tongue, said entering slot extending from one end of the bar to a point approximately midway thereof, said bar also having a closed portion having a socket in which the projecting portion of the prong is snugly fitted and hold, the closed portion extending from a point midway the ends of the bar to one end thereof, the bar presenting paper-engaging faces on each side of the prong.-

GEORGE HENRY ENNIS. 

